Alarm clock



Feb. 1, 1949. R. F. HECKMER, SR 2,460,634

ALARM CLOCK Filed Jan. 7, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet l flmaoz ih.

Feb. 1., 1949.

Filed Jan. 7, 1946 R. F. HECKMER, SR

ALARM CLOCK 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor fiqyffiofidFffeclfme); $23

WW Z9 Patented Feb. 1, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ALARM CLOCKRaymond F. Heckmer, Sr., Youngstown, Ohio Application January 7, 1946,Serial No. 639,495

1 Claim.

This invention relates to alarm clocks and has for its object to providea novel alarm signal for clocks of this type together with a newmechanism for operating the same.

Persons with reduced hearing faculties cannot use, as a rule, theconventional type of alarm clock producing an acoustic alarm signal.This signal moreover has the drawback that it constitutes a seriousdisturbance for everybody who happens to be at rest within a certaindistance from the clock, as the acoustic signal intensity has to beabove a minimum intensity to be effective.

The alarm clock according to the invention uses light signals and ispredicated on the physiological light reflex of the human body, asufficient volume of light above a certain intensity, interrupting thesleep of a person instantly in all cases of normal or sound reflexes.

The invention has therefore for its main object to provide a clockproducing a light signal of the required volume and intensity. It hasfor a further object to operate said signal with means which may be usedin connection with the usual spring operated alarm clock. Still furtherob jects will be apparent from the following detailed specification.

The invention is described with reference to a single embodiment, whichhas to show a specific construction and arrangement in order to beoperative. However, it will be manifest to the expert skilled in thisart that this specific construction and arrangement is not the soleembodiment of the invention and that other embodiments are included andare equally, well adapted to carry into effect the inventive idea. Someof these constructions and arrangements are even foreshadowed in thespecification which describes the invention in such term-s as to suggestfurther modifications. Such modifications and constructive changes, asfar as included in the annexed claim, are therefore to be regarded aspart of the invention and not as a departure therefrom.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is an elevational front view of the alarm clock, whenpositioned and secured on the signal box forming a pedestal for it.

Figure 2 is an elevational side View, partly in section, of the clockand the signal box.

Figure 3 is an elevational rear view, partly in section, of the alarmclock, and

Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating the connections.

When constructing a clock with a light signal based on the physiologicaleffect of light on a sleeping person, the volume and intensity of thelight plays a major part. This volume and intensity has to be selectedby experience with due consideration to the group of persons showing theslowest reaction. The lamp used for producing the light signal may asexperience shows, not be operated by weak currents at low voltages suchas furnished by dry cells. More over it is hardly possible in commercialconstructions to concentrate the light into a beam, which would have tobe directed toward the sleeping person. The source of light haspreferably to be a conventional incandescent-lamp of sufficient power toproduce the desired effect and it was found that a lamp of about 150 w.proves to be necessary. An incandescent lamp of this type requiresoperation from the -120 v. power line, and the alarm clock constructionhas therefore tobe such that voltages and current intensities associatedwith such a power line can be handled.

The entire alarm mechanism according to the invention consists of thelight signal box I housing the signal lamp 2 which forms the base orsupport for the clock designated in general by 3. The signal box i, isonly provided with the lamp socket 4, with a toggle switch 5, permittingto cut out the lamp and with the necessary wires or other connections 6.The front side of the box I may be covered by a wall 1 with a circularhole 8 through which the lamp bulb 2 projects to the desired extent.

The casing I2 may be permanently secured to the casing l by suitablemeans such as angle arm fasteners 37 or the like. In order to be able tocarry the unit, a carrying handle 45 may, moreover, be secured to thecasing l.

The alarm clock proper I0 is shown as being of the type having acylindrical clock work casing H with a dial H! in front, which may befastened within an outer casing l2, provided with a front cover I3through which the clock dial I l projects.

The casing 12 is provided at its upper end with a plug socket orconnector 55 into which the plugs of a sma1l lamp [6 are inserted. Thislamp is preferably provided with a reflector il' directing its raysdownwardly and it carries its own cut-01f switch I8.

This lamp is not connected with the alarm circuit. It may serve as adial illuminator or even as a night light. It is controlled separatelyby hand.

The outer casing l2, moreover, contains the alarm circuit switch 20,operated by the alarm clock, which comprises two alarm signal contacts2|, 22 and a switch arm 23, fulcrumed below the contacts, which carriesan insulated contact bridging piece 24. The fulcrum of the switch arm isformed by a pivot pin 26 carried by lugs 25.

At its upper end the switch arm 23 is provided with a slot 27. Throughthe said slot 27 a pin 28 projects which is carried by a push rod 29.Said rod passes through the outer casing l2 on one side and is providedwith a push button 30, which may be actuated by the user of the alarmclock, in order to bring the rod into or out of operative position. Thepush rod 29, moreover, passes through the cylindrical casing l I of theclock on the inner side and is provided at its inner end with aninclined guiding or head plate 3| fastened to the push rod in anyapproved manner.

This head plate 3| is arranged within the range of action of a rotatingalarm dog.or tongue 32 which is mounted on a shaft 33 rotated by thealarm spring 34.

Where the alarm spring is mounted within a drum which is rotated by it,the dog or tongue may be carried by said drum.

The dog 32 during its rotation presses against the head plate 3| of thepush rod 29 and pushes it back, thus operating the switch arm 23 bymeans of the pin 28 engaging slot 2'! of said arm. In addition to thisswitch mechanism the casing carries a toggle switch 35 controlling thecircuit of the alarm signal contacts 2!, 22 and a plug socket 36,arranged in the alarm circuit 40. This plug socket may serve for theconnection of an additional lamp arranged at a distance or forconnection with any time controlled apparatus which it is desired tooperate by means of the alarm clock. This may be an electric range, awashing machine 'or any other apparatus.

In addition the casing I2 may house a bell transformer 38 and an alarmbell 39 which may act as an auxiliary or subsidiary alarm supplementingthe main alarm. This auxiliary alarm is especially useful in the eventthat a number of persons have to be. alarmed.

The connections will be manifest from Figure 4. The conventional cordprovided with a plug connection 4| completes the outfit.

As shown in Figure 1 the signal box may be connected with the alarmclock casing [2 by means of a cord with plug connection 42.

The operation of the alarm clock will be clear and need not be explainedin detail.

It will be readily understood that the equipment may be changed in manyways and that the alarm clock arrangement when detached from the signallamp box may be used to operate any other time controlled apparatuswithout the lamp. However, these are auxiliary uses, which may besubstituted for or combined with the main function which consists ofoperating a lamp for alarm purposes.

I claim:

An alarm clock arrangement provided with a visual signal consisting inan electric bulb producing light of a predetermined volume and intensityand supplied by connections with the mains of a network of customarynetwork voltage, comprising an alarm clock provided with a windingshaft, an outer casing surrounding and enclosing said alarm clock, aswitch mechanism between said casing and said alarm clock, including apush rod carrying a push plate and a push button, the latter projectingoutside of the casing and adapted for hand operation, and the formerprojecting into the vicinity of the winding shaft, an insulated leverpivoted to said casing and connected with said push rod, a contactbridge piece carried by the same, contacts facing said bridge piece andadapted to be operatively connected thereby, said contacts being carriedby said outer casing and connected with the electric bulb and its supplywires respectively, and a member fixed on the winding shaft for pressingback said push plate and operating said push rod upon rotation of thesaid shaft.

RAYMOND F. HECKMER, SR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,350,693 Barletta Aug. 24, 19201,895,703 Cranwill Jan. 31, 1933 2,045,798 Purvis June 30, 19362,105,050 Mome Jan. 11, 1938 2,276,339 Price Mar. 17, 1942 2,396,947Gutteridge Mar. 19, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 61,125Sweden July 6, 1926 211,751 Great Britain Feb. 28, 1924

